Suction cleaner



Sept 7, 1937- w. H. Kl'rTo 2,092,581

SUCTION CLEANER Filed July 18, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 7, 1937. l

w. KITTo sCTIoN CLEANER Filed July 18, B5]

.'5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v Sept. 7, 1937. W, H, K11-T0 2,092,581

SUC-NYON CLEANER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 18, 195,1

Patented Sept. 7, 1937 n .l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUCTION CLEANER William H. Kitto, Canton,Ohio, assigner to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a crporationof Ohio Application July 18, 1931, Serial No. 551,672

17 Claims. (Cl. 15-6) The present invention relates to suction cleantioncleaner, a new and nevel combination of ers generally, and particularlyto new and imrotary agitating and gyratory agitating means. provedsurface-agitating means for a suction A further object is the provision,in a suction K cleaner. More specifically the invention comcleaner, ofvibrating agitating means which are prises a new and novel combinationof surfacedriven from the rotary agitator. A still furbeating andbrushing means with pile-agitating ther object is the provision, in asuction cleaner, means in a suction cleaner. Y of the combination of arotary positive agitator It has long been the practice of suctioncleanand vibrating nozzle lips which arel actuated by er builders toincorporate surface-agitating the rotary agitator. A further object isthe means as the requirement of such means for provision in a suctioncleaner, ofa rotary agitator l complete cleaning was Well recognized. Inthe provided with eccentric means to positively acearlier cleaners thesurface-agitating means tuate the movable nozzle lips construction.Still comprised rotary brushes which were generally another object isthe provision, in a suction positioned within the suction cleaner nozzleand cleaner, of an eccentrically mounted rotary driven throughpower-transmitting means from agitator which is connected to and adaptedto 1r the motor which drove the suction-creating fan. actuate movableagitating nozzle lips. These In other types of cleaners a vertically orhoriand other more specific objects will appear upon zontallyreciprocating beater or agitating memreading the following specicationand.claims ber was positioned within the nozzle and driven and uponconsidering in connection therewith by some suitable means. In its laterdevelopthe annexed drawings to which they relate. 20

ment the modern suction cleaner was provided In the drawings in whichpreferred embodi-` with a rotary positive beating agitator within mentsof the present invention are disclosed: its nozzle, that is,a.rotarymember provided with Fig. l is a side View of a modern suction rigidsurface-contacting members which funccleaner embodying a preferredembodiment of tion, in operation, to positively vibrate the surthepresent invention with the end Wall of the face covering undergoingcleaning to dislodge the nozzle in section upon the line I-I of Figure2; `embedded foreign matter therefrom. Brushes Fig. 2 is a cross sectionthrough the cleaner were usually provided in combination with the nozzleupon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

rotary rigid surface-contacting elements. It Fig. 3 is a partial crosssection upon the line has been discovered in the laboratories that .3 3of Fig. 2; 30

the agitation of the pile of the surface covering, Fig. 4 is a sectionupon the line 4-4 of Fig. 5; even in the absence of surface coveringvibra-` Fig. 5 is a partial cross section upon the line tion, in thesense of vibrating the entire body of 5-5 of Fig. 4;

the covering at the point of cleaning, is effective Fig. 6 is a view inperspective of one end of to dislodge embedded and impacted foreignmathe agitator-supporting frame and the nozzleterial at the base of thepile. It has also been lip-supporting frame, the rotary agitator beingfound that this pile agitation or vibration is parremovedfrom theconstruction;

ticularly effective when it takes place at the ex- Fig. 7 is a View ofthe spring detail embodied act pOint at Which the Cleaning air iSeffective. in the nozzle lip frame being a partial section To accomplishthis last result the nozzle lips of taken upon the line 1-1 of Figure 4;40

the cleaner have, in some cleaners, been positively actuated. In someembodiments the entire Suction cleaner nozzle was actuated in Order iection similar to Fi e 5 being .to accomplish this lip vibration whilein the Flg' 9 s 9' s guf h h leaner 4;, more preferred embodiments thelips were moved oglalsvlsle to'gifnnggd tefei; of a relative to thenozzle. In the` present invention applicant has embodied for the firsttime in a second embodiment ofthe present invention, and suctioncleaner, rotary agitating means and DOsibein? .takefl upon' fhe' une 9 9loin f tively-actuated nozzle lips and has provided new Flg- 10 1S a'Sectlon upon the me 0 Fig. 8 is a partial section upon the line 8 8 ofFig. 4; A

:lo and novel means for the actuation ofthe lips Fig. 9; 50 toaccomplish their surface-pile-defiecting and Fig. 11 is a section uponthe line lI-H 0f vibrating function. i Fig, 9;

It is an object of the present invention to pro- Fig. 12 is a view inperspective of the resilient vide a new and novel suction cleanerconstrucsupporting element for the agitator in they emr tion. It isanother object to provide, in a sucbodiment shown in Figs. 9 to 15incluslve; 05

Fig. 13 is a view in perspective of the enclosing cup member for theelement shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a view in perspective of one end of the vibrating agitatingelements and one of their supporting end members;

Fig. 15 is a side view of the rotary agitating agitator and thevibrating agitators removed as a unit from the supporting frame;

Fig. 16 is a side view of a different type of rotary agitator adapted tobeembodied in the construction shown in Figs. 9 to 14 inclusive.

Referring again to the drawings, and Figures 1 to 8 in particular, apreferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in a modernsuction cleaner comprising a nozzle I; a .fan chamber 2, which isinteriorly connected to said nozzle through the air passageway 3; and anexhaust outlet 4 to which is attached, by suitable means 5, the dust bag6. A motor casing 1 is positioned immediately above the fan chamber 2and houses a suitable driving motor, the shaft 8 of which extendsdownwardly through the fan chamber 2 where it carries thesuction-creating fan 9. I A belt-receiving pulley I8 is carried at thelower end of the motor shaft '8. 'Ihe cleaner is movably supported bymeans of front supporting `wheels and rear supporting Wheels l2, l2,there being means, indicated generally by the reference character I3, bywhich the nozzle I may be raised and lowered about the front supportingwheels l|I as an axis. As in the usual suction cleaner a pivoted handle4 is provided through the use of which the operator can easily move thecleaner over the floor.

A rotary agitator, indicated generally by the reference character I5, ispositioned within the nozzle I andv comprises a cylindrical body I6which carries upon its surface the rigid elongated .beating velementsI1, |1, which extend helically from common end points, and thelongitudinally extending brushes I8, I8, which are positioned below .thesurface of body I6 and extend thereabove at a 'height substantiallyequal to .the height of the beater elements I1, |1. Spacer elements I9,I9 are positioned upon the surface of the body |6 between the beaterelements |1, I1 and the brush element |8, I8 which lfunction to preventthe undue displacement .of the surface covering within the nozzlebetween the successive contacts of the said beater elementsvand the saidbrush elexr'ients.` Body |6 is rotatably mounted upon the stationarythrough-supporting shaft by means of bearings 2|,2| at theends of theagitator. Each bearing comprises an inner race 22, which is seated uponth'e reduced end of the stationary shaft'28, and an outer race 23, whichis seated in a suitable seat formed in the agitator end plate 24 of thebody |6. Between the outer race 23 of the bearing and the enclosing seatin the agitator end plate'is positioned a cup member 25 which isprovided with an outwardly 'extended portion at the side of the bearings2| which has a cylindrical seat 26 which is eccentric with respect tothe shaft 28 for a purpose which will soon beapparent. Each end ofstationary shaft 28 issupported in a slot 21 in the adjacent end plate28 of the agitator-supporting frame, the latter comprising the two endplates 28, 28, each pivoted as at 29 to the nozzle of the cleaner, andthe transversely-'extending members 38 and 3| which extend across thenozzle between the end plates and contact the front and rear nozzlewalls, respectively. To prevent the unintended displacement of "theagitator-supporting shaft 28 a pivoted locking plate 32 is provided oneach end member 28 which is pivoted at 33 which, through being providedwith a cam surface 34 and being pivoted under the force of a spring 35,cooperates with the' slot 21 to maintain the shaft in position.

Encircling the eccentric seat 26 on each cup member 25 carried by eachend of the agitator is a bearing 36 the inner race 31 of whichnonrotatably seats upon the portion 26 and the outer race 38 of whichseats in an end member or plate 39 which is provided centrally, as isclearly seen in Figure 6, with a seat 48. Each end member 39 is formedof a lower portion 4| and an upper portion 42 which is pivoted at oneside, by means of the pivot pin 43, to the lower portion 4|. A spring 44encircles the pivot pin 43 and serves to force the two portionstogether. At the rearward side of each end member 39, opposite the pin43, is positioned a thumb lock spring 45 which is carried by the upperportion 42 and which is provided with a projectingportion 46 of which isadapted to seat within a suitable opening 41 formed in the side wall ofthe lower portion 4I and which in place functions to lock the twoportions together. Between the end members 39, 39, which are positionedat the opposite ends of the rotary agitator, extend thesurface-contacting members or lips 48 and 49 respectively. These lipmembers are rigidly attached to the lower portions 4|, 4| of the endmembers 39, 39 and are sealed, throughout their entire length, to theadjacent members 38 and 3|, respectively of the agitator-supportingframe by means of the rubberized fabric strips or ,seals 58 and 5| whichare suitably connected therebetween, and which are sufficiently flexibleas to offer no resistance to relative movement between the lips 48 and49 and the' members 38 and- 3|.

To prevent any rotation of the lip-carrying end members 39, 39 upon therotation of the agitator, which is itself connected from its reducedcentral pulley portion through the belt 52 to the pulley I8 on the motorshaft 8, springs 53, 54, and 55 are provided on the front, the top, andthe rear walls of the nozzle I at each end thereof. 'I'hese springscontact the sides of the end members 39, 39 and clearly prevent anyappreciable rotation invthose members though offering substantially noreslstanceto vibratory orftranslatory movement thereof, within certainlimits. The presence of these springs 53,54, and 55 at the ends of thenozzle in contact with the end members 39, 39 removes anyrstress fromthe seals 58 and 5 I, which might otherwise be imposed thereon upon theoperation ofthe cleaner.

In theoperation of ,the suction cleaner, ,constructed in accordance withthis preferred embodiment of the invention, upon the rotation of thecleaner motor the suction-creating fan 9 revolves at high speed creatinga reduced pressure inthe fan chamber 2 which is immediately effective inthe nozzle I, connected to the fan Achamber by means of the airpassageway 3, re-` sulting in the lifting of the surface covering belowthe nozzle I into contact with transversely extending lips 48 and 49which define the nozzle mouth. The rotation of the-motor shaft 8 istransmitted, through the pulley I8 and belt 52, to agitator I5 which isrotated at high speed upon its bearings 2|, 2| carried by the stationaryshaft 28 which is itself carried by the end members 28, 28 of theagitator-supporting frame. Upon the rotation of the agitator I5 the .cupmembers 25, 25 carried atv the ends thereof, together with theireccentric seats 26, 26, are also 'rotated resulting in the revolution ofthe lip-carrying end members 39, 39, which are vresiiierltly positionedrelative to the nozzle by the springs 53, 54 and 55, and which encloseby ltheir central seats 40, 48 the eccentrics 26, 26, about the shaft 20of the agitator. Attention is specifically directed to the fact that theend members 39, 39 do not rotate about the shaft 29 as an axis butinstead revolve thereabout. As the lips 48 and 49 are rigidly connectedto the end members 39, 39 they receive the identical motion which isimparted thereto and in eifect describes small circles and so functionto agitata. flex and vibrate the pile of the surface covering with whichthey contact. As the air drawn into the suction nozzle by thesuction-creating fan must enter the nozzle underthe lips 48 and 49. theybeing sealed to members which contact the nozzle walls, it is apparentthat the agitation effected by the vlips 48 and 49 is at the exact pointof cleaning air effectiveness. It is clear, therefore, that in thesuction cleaner constructed in accordance with the present embodiment,the` surface covering is agitated, in the sense ofbeing beaten, vibratedand brushed by the rigid beating elements of the rotary agitator and bythe brush elements l thereof, and the pile of the covering isadditionally vibrated and exed by the agitating lips 43 and 49.

To remove the agitator l5 from the supporting `frame within which it ismounted it is only necessary to pivot the end members 28, 23, togetherwith their cross members 36 and 3|, downwardly from the nozzle abouttheir pivot points 29, 29. With the supporting frame pivoted downwardlyto the position shown in Figure 1 it is then possible to pivot the upperportions 62, 42 of the end members 39, 39 in a counterclockwisedirection relative to the lower portions 4|, 4| thereof, it being onlynecessary to exert an inward force upon-each thumb lock spring 45 inorder to detach the detent 46 from its seat 41 in the member 4| to makethat movement possible. With the 7 portions 42, 42 pivoted from theportions`4l, 4|

of the end members, it is then only necessary to pivot the locking cammembers 32, 32 against the force exerted by the springs 35, 35 in orderto permit the endsof the agitator-supporting axle 29 to be removedoutwardly from the slots 21, 21

in the end members 28, 28. The replacement of the agitator in the nozzleis simply the reverse operation. A

Referring now to Figures 9 to 15 inclusive a second preferred embodimentof the present invention is disclosed, the suction cleaner nozzle beingagain indicated by the reference character The rotary agitator 51comprises a hollow cylindrical body 5B having end members 59 and whichis provided upon its surface with the rigid elongated beaters 68, 60 andcarries below its surface the removable brush elements 6|, 6|, as in theprevious embodiment. Agitator 61 is rotatably and eccentiically mountedupon the stationary supporting f shaft 62 by means of the bearings 63,63 which are seated in seats 64, 64, in each end plate 59. As' isclearly seen in Figure 9 the imaginary center axis of the cylindricalbody 58 is the center line indicated by the reference character A, whilethe center line of the shaft 62, and so the bearings 63, 63 as well asthe 'seats 64, 64, is the center line indicated by the reference'character B. As in the previous embodiment the agitator 53 is connectedby the belt 52 to the shaft of the driving motor. 'Threaded on to theend of shaft 62 is a stationary end member or thread guard 65 which isconcentric with the shaft 62 being ofsulcient diameter to enclose theend of the cylindrical agitator body at its greatest radius from thegshaft. Secured to each. thread guard- 65 by means of spaced headedscrews 66,166, of winch there are four at each end, is an end plate 61,an insert or ller member 65a being provided therebetween to insuresuflicient seating surface for the end plate. Carried by and extendingbetween the end plates 61, 61 at each end of the agitator which are thetransversely extending surface-contacting members 6 8 and 69 whichextend entirely across the nozzle mouth parallel to the agitator 51 andspaced therefrom.

The agitator-supporting frame comprises pivoted end plates which arehere indicated by the reference character 10, 10 and which are pivotedat the rear of the nozzle uponthe pins 1| 1|. Between members 10, 19 ofthe agitator-supporting frame is a front transverse member 12 which liesagainst and in contact with the front wall of the nozzle and, in thepresent embodiment, extends downwardly at an angle therefrom to form thefront nozzle lip. There is no rear transverse member in theagitator-supporting frame, as in the first embodiment, the rear nozzlelip 13 being rigidly carried by the nozzle I, As in the rst embodimenteach end member 10 of the agitator-supporting frame is provided with aslot, here indicated by the reference character 14, and in this slot ispositioned a pin 15 which in each instance is locked in place by a cammember 16 under the influence of a pivoting spring 11.` 'I'he pin 15, ineach end of the nozzle is carried by a cup member 18 which encloses andfirmly seats a resilient rubber disk 19 which is provided with fourspaced seats 80, 80 etc. which are adapted to receive and seat theextended heads of'the screws 66, 66, aforedescribed.

In the operation of the present embodiment of the invention, constructedin accordance with the showings of Figures 9 to l5 inclusive, upon therotation of agitator 51 the agitator in starting rotates about thecenter line B, of the shaft 62. As the rotational speed of the agitatorincreases, however, it tends to rotate about its own imaginary centeraxis, which is indicated in Figure 9 by the line bearing the referencecharacter A, and accomplishes this end before its normal speed isattained. Upon the agitator rotating about this imaginary axis it isapparent that the shaft.

62 will revolve once, upon each rotation of the agitator, about theimaginary center line A in a circle having a radius equal to thedistance between the two center lines. This relative movement of theshaft 62 relativeito the cleaner nozzle and to the supporting agitatorframe is made possible through the resilient mounting of the supportingscrews 66, 66 etc. in the resilient bodies 19, 19 at the agitator ends.As the agitator revolves about its own absolute and instantaneouscenter, that indicated by the axis line bearing the reference characterA, the end plates 61, 61, carried rigidly upon the axle 62 receive atranslational or revolutional motion in that they are revolved about theimaginary axis of rotation of the agitator., This motion of the endplates 61, 61 is, of course, eifective in the surface-contactingagitating elements'68 and 69, which in the present embodiment are notnozzle lips, but merely positively actuated agitating elements which areadapted to vibrate and flex the pile of the surface covering= which theycontact. Each agitator 68 and 69 positively vibrates the surfacecovering with which it contacts upon being vibrated by the motionaforedescribed.

To remove the agitator from its supporting frame within the nozzle it isonly necessary to pivot the end members 10, 18 downwardly from thenozzle, pivot the locking cam members 16, 16 rearwardly to permit thewithdrawal of the supporting pins 15, 15 from the slots 14, 14, and therotary agitator, together with the vibrating agitators 68 and 69 andtheir supporting end members 61, 61, can be withdrawn as a unit.Thereafter the unit can be disassembled in an obvious manner.

Referring now to Figure 16 in particular a further type of agitator,indicated generally by the reference character 80, is shown which isadapted to be embodied in the modification shown in Figures 9 to 14.Agitator 88 comprises an elongated body 8| having a centrally locatedpulley 82; spaced bristle tufts 83, 83 etc. are carried by the body 8l,the latter being rotatably and eccentrically mounted at each end upon ashaft 84 through a bearing 85, the body and the supporting shaft 84having different center lines. It is apparent that, upon the rotation ofagitator 88, as in the last described embodiment, the agitator will, athigh speed, rotate about its own imaginary center line resulting in therevolution of the supporting axle thereabout and thereupon resulting inthe movement of end members 86, 86 together with thetransversely-extending agitators 81, as in the aforedescribedembodiment. Spaced supporting means 88, 88 etc. are provided on the endmembers 86, 86 which are adapted to be seated in the seats 80, 8D of theresilient discs.

I claim:

l. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a rotary agitatormounted in said nozzle, a movably mounted transversely extendedsurface-agitating element in said nozzle, a member at the end of saidagitator connected to said element, means mounting said member formovement in all directions in a plane perpendicular to the axis ofrotation of said agitator and preventing rotation thereof, said memberbeing also connected to said agitator eccentrically relative to the axisof rotation to be actuated thereby upon rotation of said agitator forthe purpose of actuating said element.

2. In a suction cleaner, a rotary surface-beating agitator, means torotate said agitator, an elongated thin surface-contacting element atthe side of said agitator of such thickness that it is adapted topenetrate between adjacent tufts of pile of a surface coveringundergoing cleaning, and means to vibrate said element in a directionhaving a horizontal component.

3. In a suction cleaner, an agitator including rigid beaters, means toactuate said agitator, an elongated thin surface-contacting element atthe side of said agitator, and means to vibrate said element, saidsurface-contacting element forming a nozzle lip for said cleaner.

4. In a suction cleaner, a body, a rotary agitator carried by said body,means to rotate said agitator, an eccentric carried by said agitator, amember carried by and supported on said eccentric for translationrelative to the center of rotation of said agitator upon its rotation,means preventing rotation of said member about its own axis, and asurface-contacting element connected to said member' at a point spacedfrom said eccentric and movable therewith.

5. In a suction cleaner, a body, a rotary agitator carried by said body,means to rotate said agitator, eccentrics carried by said agitator atthe ends thereof, members carried by and supported on said eccentrics,means preventing rotation of said member about their own axes, and asurface-contacting agitating element connected between said members atthe side of said agitator.

6. In a suction cleaner, a body, a rotary agitator positioned in saidbody, means to rotate said agitator, eccentrics mounted at the ends ofsaid agitator and adapted to be rotated therewith, members mounted onthe eccentrics, means preventing rotation of said members and permittinglimited displacement thereof in all directions in a plane perpendicularto the axis of rotation of said agitator, surface agitating elementsconnected between said members and means sealing said elements to thesurrounding nozzle so that they define the sides of the nozzle mouth andfunction as nozzle lips.

7. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, a rotary agitator including anelongated body in said nozzle, bearing means associated with said bodyeccentrically positioned relative to its axis of rotation andsurrounding that axis, members seated on said bearing means, meanspreventing rotation of said members about their own axes,surface-contacting means extended at the sides 0f said body and carriedby said members, and means to rotate said agitator.

8. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, a rotary agitator in said nozzleincluding a body, a shaft eccentrically and rotatably supporting saidbody, a member rigidly connected to said shaft and movable therewith, asurface-contacting agitating element carried by said member, meanssupporting said member and said shaft for translation, and means tovrotate said body, the mass of said body being such that it rotatesabout its true center at its normal speed of rotation.

9. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, a rotary agitator in said nozzleincluding a body, a shaft eccentrically and rotatably supporting saidbody,

means resiliently supporting said shaft in said .i

nozzle, an elongated thin surface-agitating element connected to saidshaft and movable therewith, and means to rotate said body,characterized by the fact that at its normal speed of rotation said bodyrotates about its center as an axis causing said shaft to move relativethereto.

10. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, asurface-contacting lip under which cleaning air passes dening one sideof the mouth of said nozzle and movable relative thereto, asurface-contacting agitator in said nozzle, and means to actuate saidagitator and said lip.

11. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, asurface-contacting lip under which cleaning air passes defining one sideof the mouth of said nozzle and movable relative thereto, a rotarysurface-contacting agitator in said nozzle, power-transmission meansconnected to said agitator, a driving motor, and means connecting saidlip to said agitator to vibrate the former upon the rotation of thelatter.

12. In a suction cleaner, a body including a nozzle, a rotary agitatorincluding a shaft supporting said agitator at its end, a member at theend of said agitator, a bearing eccentrically mounted on said agitatorsurrounding said shaft, and supporting said member to impart motion toit upon the rotation of said agitator, resilient means preventing therotation of said member about its own axis upon the rotation of saidagitator, a surface-agitating element mounted on said member to movewith it, and means to rotate said agitator.

13. In a suction cleaner, a body having a nozzle portion, a rotatablebody carried on said rst mentioned body at said nozzle portion, means torotate said rotatable body, an eccentric carried by said rotatable body,a member carried by and supported on said eccentric for translationrelative to the axis of rotation of said rotatable body, meanspreventing rotation of said member about its own axis, and asurface-contacting elementl carried by said member. and movable with it.

14. In a suction cleaner, a body, a rotatable trically and rotatablysupporting said rotatable body, a member connected to said shaft andmovable therewith, a surface-contacting agitating element carried bysaid member, means supporting said member and said shaft fortranslation, the mass of said rotatable body being such that it rotatesabout its true center at its normal speed of rotation thereby causingsaid member and element to be vibrated, and means to rotate saidrotatable body.

15. A suction cleaner having a nozzle mouth and an air passagewayleading therefrom, a fan chamber open to said passageway at a pointspaced from said mouth, a driving shaft extended through said fanchamber into said passageway,

a fan on said shaft in said chamber to create a reduced pressure in saidpassageway and nozzle upon the rotation of'said shaft, a. rotatableunbalanced mass mounted for rotation and translation at the nozzlemouth, power transmission means connecting said mass to said shaft tocause rotation in the former, and a non-rotatable surface-contactingbeater element connected to and translatable with said mass. 10

16. The construction recited in the preceding claim in which resilientmeans support said unbalanced mass forwv translation in the nozzlemouth. body on said rst-mentioned body, a shaft eccen- 17. A suctioncleaner having a nozzle mouth and an air passageway leading therefrom, afan chamber open to said passageway at a point spaced from said mouth, adriving shaft extended through said fan chamber into said passageway, afan on said shaft in said chamber to create a reduced pressure in saidpassageway and nozzle upon 'the rotation of said shaft, a rotatablemember in said nozzle mouth, a surface-contacting element mounted fortranslation, a translatable member carriedv eccentrically by saidrotatable 25 member and carrying said element, and means preventingrotation of said translatable member.

WmLIAM H. Krlr'ro.

